Woman found dead inside burning home

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (KMOV.com) -- One woman is dead after a fire at home in Collinsville just after midnight.

The Collinsville Fire Department were dispatched to the 1000 block of Ridge when a passerby noticed the fire. The fire inside the home was still very visible when fire crews arrived. Upon further investigation they found an elderly woman dead inside.

"At first I thought who could that be and I did think of this lady down the street because she was by herself and you didn't see too much of her,” said neighbor Dolores Wesemann.

Wesemann says she had seen the victim in the neighborhood every now and then and that she lived alone.

"It happens. It's not really I guess that surprising. We're elderly. It happens,” she said.

The Collinsville Fire Department and Illinois Fire Marshall are still working to figure out what caused the fire. Their main focus is in the bedroom where they say the fire started.

Neighbors told News 4 they believe the woman was a smoker.

Wesemann says this is a reminder to always check in on loved ones.

"It's nice to have family and neighbors that know that you're alone and that are looking out for you,” she said.